Total pages in book: 159
Estimated words: 148184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 148184 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 741(@200wpm)___ 593(@250wpm)___ 494(@300wpm)
“Oh, you like that?” I whisper against her wet skin. I suck her clit between my lips and enjoy the way she reacts.
I focus on making her squirm harder in my hold. It’s not gentle, me forcing an orgasm on her, but hell, this is supposed to be a punishment.
Her heavy panting reaches me, and I feel her legs tighten around my ears. She’s close, and I can’t wait to taste the sweet honey of her when she tips over the edge.
It takes seconds for her to fist my hair and arch her back, forcing her pussy harder into my mouth. I give her exactly what she wants and use the tip of my tongue to tease her clit faster.
Her breathy moan as she comes is the sweetest sound I’ve ever heard. I lick her softer, easing back slowly until she settles on the bed, her hands falling beside her hips.
I give her one more kiss and then stand to look down at her. “And what do you say to me?”
She peeks one eye open and looks at me. “Yeah, that’ll teach me.”
13
VALENTINA
Every time he touches me, I still flinch. I feel bad about it because he has done nothing but pleasure me for the past couple of weeks since his “punishment.” Based on what my father would have done to me for butting into things that aren’t my business, he could have done a lot worse.
But he’s patient with me. Every flinch is met with a kiss and more of his hands on my skin. It’s like he can’t stop touching me. I guess it’s what I made the deal for. I accepted that when we got married, even if I didn’t quite understand why he went through all the effort when I’d already signed my life away to him.
I wake up with his fingers between my legs and his mouth on my skin. Some mornings, he rubs himself against me until he comes hot and hard on my thighs. Those times are the hardest to keep from pulling him into my arms and telling him I want all of him.
Some days are easier than others. Most of the time, I’m content with staring at the incredible view from his penthouse or reading a book. It’s a lot like being at home without the eggshells I constantly had to walk on. His friends and the guards are courteous, and for the very first time in my life, I feel like I’m actually safe.
I doubt neither my father nor Sal could get to me in this place. They could try, but then they’d face some of the most badass soldiers I’ve ever seen.
I’ve convinced myself that if I stay here, inside, then nothing can reach me. Not even my nightmares. Which is a lie and the truth. When he holds me, the world feels quiet, and I feel guilty for grasping onto that feeling and letting it take care of me. Like my happiness is some kind of betrayal to Rose.
On the rare occasion he isn’t able to climb into bed beside me, the nightmares come back. I see Sal’s face leering and looming over me. I see Rose’s eyes accusing me for being the one who survived despite all the things she went through. I see my father’s pitying face telling me everything is my fault.
After the nightmares, I wake up in his arms and let him chase away the demons for one more night. I don’t know how long I’ll be able to outrun them, but I hope when I see proof that Sal is dead, maybe I’ll have some peace, maybe Rose will once and for all. Until then, it’s a strange ping pong between safety and guilt.
I lie in bed staring at the ceiling. Adrian is already up for the day, long since dressed and gone. When I moved to get up with him, he urged me to stay in bed and relax. My injuries are nothing more than slight aches these days, but he still wants to coddle me. I haven’t felt that way since my mother died.
I’m content to stay here as he demands, but I won’t dare try to sleep. Not without him beside me.
A rustle comes from the partially open bathroom door. I hate that my first reaction is fear. It crawls along my body, paralyzing me. My senses narrow to watching the door and listening for any other sounds.
The only way to get into the bathroom without walking through the bedroom is to come through the other side from another bedroom. It was apparently supposed to be mine, but Adrian made it clear I was to stay with him, no matter what.
Only me, or him, should be in the bathroom right now. I slowly sit up and creep off the side of the bed. I don’t know what I’m feeling. If someone has broken this little piece of safety I’ve been able to gather around me, I almost feel angry and violent, ready to exact revenge for it.